15 Best Animals for Small Homesteads
Don’t let the size of your land hold you back. Even a backyard can sustain some of the animals on this list.
If you’re setting up a small homestead, picking the right livestock is more than just a practical decision—it’s about shaping the heart and soul of your land. In this guide, we’ll dive into a range of animals tailored for smaller spaces, from the industrious buzz of bees to the gentle presence of miniature sheep. Discover how each creature fits into your space and enriches your daily life, providing everything from fresh eggs to natural lawn care.
Whether you’re aiming for self-sufficiency or just love the idea of a backyard full of life, these livestock choices offer both utility and joy.
Pigs
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American Guinea Hogs are a small, rugged breed known for their docility and minimal rooting behavior compared to other pigs, which makes them less destructive to pastures. They thrive on a diet of forage and kitchen scraps, reducing feed costs significantly. Their meat is highly regarded for its flavor and texture, making it a gourmet choice for small-scale farmers. Additionally, their size and gentle nature make them easier to handle and suitable for farms with limited space.
Turkeys
Raising turkeys can diversify a small homestead with their meat and, occasionally, eggs. Heritage breeds like the Bourbon Red and Narragansett are known for their disease resistance and ability to forage, which can help reduce feed costs while improving soil health through their scratching and natural fertilization. Turkeys also serve as a form of pest control, eating a wide variety of insects during their foraging.
Alpacas
Alpacas are particularly valued for their fiber, which is hypoallergenic and comes in a range of natural colors for creating textiles. These animals are suited to small homesteads because they have a gentle footprint on pastures, are relatively easy to care for, and have a calm disposition. Alpacas are also efficient grazers that can manage pasture grass without overgrazing, making them ideal for rotation grazing systems.
Miniature Cows
Miniature cows or small breed cows like Dexters and Miniature Herefords offer the benefits of cattle without requiring extensive acreage. Dexters, for example, are dual-purpose, providing both milk and meat, and are known for their hardiness and adaptability to various climatic conditions. Miniature Herefords are bred specifically for meat production, offering a smaller body size that makes them easier to manage and feed.
Watch out for scams. There are no actual “miniature highlands” out there and people will pose underfed, sick, or poor stock as being a small breed when it’s just unhealthy or badly bred.
Miniature Donkeys
Miniature donkeys are excellent for small plots not just as companion animals but also for their utility in guarding and light draft work. They can protect livestock from predators and help with transporting goods across the homestead. Their maintenance needs are low as they require less food than horses of comparable size, and they are known for their friendly and calm nature.
Bees
Beekeeping is a rewarding practice that supports the entire ecosystem of a homestead by pollinating plants, which increases the yield of fruit and vegetable gardens. Bees produce honey and beeswax, which can be used at home or sold for additional income. Keeping bees requires learning about bee behavior and hive management, but the space required for hives is minimal, making it ideal for small spaces.
Fish (Aquaculture)
Small-scale aquaculture can be set up in tanks or small ponds, with species like tilapia and trout being popular due to their fast growth rates and general hardiness. This practice not only provides a steady source of protein but can also be integrated into aquaponics systems, where fish waste nourishes plants, which in turn clean the water, creating a sustainable closed-loop system that maximizes resource efficiency.
Miniature Goat Breeds
Miniature goats are an ideal choice for small homesteads due to their compact size and amiable nature. Nigerian Dwarf goats are particularly prized for their milk, which has a higher butterfat content, making it excellent for making cheese and yogurt. Pygmy goats, while also capable of producing milk, are often kept for their companionable nature. These goats require less space and food than larger breeds but are still effective in weed and brush control, helping to maintain and clear land.
Learn More: 15 Reasons Why Goats Might Be The Best Animal for Self-sufficiency
Quail
Quail are a superb option for space-efficient livestock farming. They mature in just six weeks and start laying eggs early, with the potential to produce over 200 eggs per year. Quail eggs are a niche market product, often sought after for their unique flavor and presentation. They are also easy to feed, requiring less feed per pound of meat produced compared to larger poultry, making them cost-effective. Additionally, their droppings enrich the soil, adding value to garden areas.
Rabbits
Rabbits are highly valued on small homesteads for their rapid growth and reproduction capabilities. They provide lean, high-protein meat and require minimal space, making them suitable for even urban homesteads. The ease of breeding rabbits allows for continuous meat production, and their fur can also be sold or used personally. Their manure is particularly beneficial for gardens as it can be applied without composting due to its low nitrogen content that won’t burn plants.
Sheep
Small breeds of sheep, such as the Shetland or the Dorper, are particularly well-suited for small homesteads. They are not only easier to handle due to their size but also require less pasture space. Sheep can provide wool, which is valuable for homemade textiles, as well as meat and, in some breeds, milk. They are excellent grazers and can help in managing pasture health by naturally controlling weeds and fertilizing the soil.
We raise Icelandics on grass alone in the spring and summer months — on one acre.
Learn More: Why We Chose Icelandic Sheep For The Homestead
Ducks
Ducks are less labor-intensive than chickens and can be more productive in terms of egg laying. Their eggs are larger and contain more nutrients compared to chicken eggs. Ducks also thrive in a variety of climates and can help control pests around a property without damaging it much since they do not scratch the ground like chickens. Furthermore, their down feathers are valuable for crafting insulating materials and bedding.
Learn More: Are Ducks Better Than Chickens? — I Say Yes!
Chicken
I mean, obviously.
Chickens are versatile birds ideal for small homesteads, famous for both their egg production and meat. They can significantly reduce food waste by consuming kitchen scraps while providing high-quality manure for compost. Chickens also help with pest control by eating harmful insects. Setting up a chicken coop requires minimal space, and with a variety of breeds available, homesteaders can choose based on temperament, egg production, and climate adaptability.
Learn More: 15 Surprising Benefits Of Backyard Chickens
Geese
An underrated and underutilized animal that shocked me with how hands-off, easy, and cheap they were to raise. Geese quickly became my favorite animal on the homestead.
Geese are excellent foragers and can sustain themselves on grazing, cutting down feed costs. They are particularly good at keeping grass areas trimmed and can act as a natural fertilizer distributor. While not guard animals per se, their loud honking can serve as an alert to any unusual activity around the property. Geese meat is rich in flavor, and their valuable down and feathers can be harvested for making pillows and duvets. Geese eggs are enormous and delicious.
Learn More: Your Homestead Needs Geese {16 Reasons Why}
Guineafowl
Guineafowl are excellent for pest control, especially ticks and small insects, making them beneficial for maintaining the health of both livestock and humans on a homestead. They require minimal housing and upkeep once mature and can roam freely, picking off pests. Guineafowl meat is a lean, healthy alternative to traditional poultry, and their distinctive spotted feathers can be used for crafts or sold as decorative items.
Learn More: Guinea Fowl For Tick Control, Eggs, & Meat
Best Egg-Laying Chicken Breeds
Learn More: 18 Best Egg-Laying Chickens: Which Breed Is Right For You?